Method of making hats



F. H. DOUB.

` METHOD 0F MAKING HATS. APPLIcAnoN FILED AuG.3, 1920. RENEwED MAH. 20. 1922.

l ,432,28@ v `Patelued Oct. l?, 1922.

Patented @et il?, llo

' narran PATENT FLETCHER HARRIS DOUE, 0F ALAMEDA. CALIFORNIA, ASSEGNOR LO GOSTADG MFG.

i COMPANY, 0F ALATK'EDB, CALIFORNA, A. COREOBATON OF CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF lJAKING HATS.

.application filed August 3, 192i), Serial No. 400,959. Renewed March 20, 1922. Serial No. 545,346.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, FLETCHER Hannie Donn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Alameda, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented new and useful Methods of Making Hats, of which the following is a specification.

lThe present invention relates tov hats or head coverings to be worn upon the person, and has reference more particularly to an improved art or method of producing same.

ln the accompanying drawing Figure l is a perspective view of two bundles of iiber from which the hat is produced. Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the bundles arranged in fan-like formation with stitches intermediate its ends. Figure 3 is a plan view of the center of the fiber bundle shown in Figure 2 with the middle of the same cut out within the stitching` and with the strands of the ber divided in two groups. Figure t is a plan view showing the second bundle arranged across the bundle shown in Figure 3. Figure is a plan view showing the iibers f both bundles worked out so that they represent a round blank with all of the bers radiating from a common center and Figure 6 is a perspective View of a completed hat.

As a basis of illustrating the salient features of the invention l will confine the description to the preferred material used, i. e., vegetable fiber, and one method of working or arranging the fiber in producing a ladys hat of more or less conventional shape.

The different ligures in the accompanying drawing are arranged to represent the important progressive steps which are carried out during the preferred method of making a hat. The first important step in the method consists in arranging one of the bundles of liber 5 and 6, shown in perspective in Figure l, in a substantially fan like formation as in Figure 2 with the middle thereof drawn together by the stitched oval or circular series of the threads 7. The center of the oval, or circle as the case may be, thus produced may then be cut out to provide an opening as at 8, see Figure 3. lnstead of this step to produce the opening 8 the bundle 5 may be cut in two with the ends joined by the stitched threads 7; at any rate the particular means of producing the opening 8 is immaterial so long as the same exists and with the fiber radiating from around the same, as in Figure 3, with one of the bundles thus fixed, the other bundles designated as 6 will then be stitched transversely across the first named bundle as in Figure a and with the fiber thereof likewise arranged substantially fan shape. With the two bundles arranged substantially as shown in Figure lthe strands of the liber in each will be worked around so that they will radiate from practically a common center and at the same time additional stitches are taken around the prearranged strands with the iirst series 7 thereof comprising the center. rl`he texture of the worked strands may if desired gradually thin out to provide a fringed brim as a`t 9.

rlhe shaping of the hat may be accomplished at any convenient time, for instance when the method is being carried out or after the formation of the general shaping of the hat.

I have found in practice that a hat made substantially in accordance with the present method, especially if vegetable or the like fiber is used, is capable of withstanding the most severe use without impairing its shape or in any otherwise destroying its appear'- ance. Furthermore the time and expense required in producing the nished article is much less than that incurred in the presentA known methods. rl`here is also to be considered the advantages to be gained in arrangingthe strands of material radially of the hat rather than the heretofore accepted form of weaving or braiding them circumferentially around the same. The resistance to breaking and becoming out of shape is due primarily to the peculiar arrangement of the strands and the means for joining the same together.

In the first instance the fiber or other material is carefully combed out and weighed in bundles of such sizes and lengths according to the shape and size of the hat to be produced.

l claim:

l. lShe herein describedvmethod of producing hats from fiber or the like strands which consists in grouping two measured quantities of the fiber with their lengths ar- 2. The method of produc-ing hats from rangedoorosswise to each other, joining the fiber or the like strands as set orthrin claim quantities at the'point of Vintersection`7 Workl, and in Whiehfone of the quantities is` pro- 10 ing the etrandsof 'each quantity'in to a subvidedwith' an opening intermediate its ends stantially circular formation, and maintainand around Which the circular series of ing the saine in such form by a circular sestitches extend oireumferentially of the'het. ries of stitches. FLETCHER HARRIS DOUB. 

